So near, and yet so far . . .

. . . So good with the inspections, up to a point.

That checkmark and intials in the "Framing Approved" space on our building permit are what we've been waiting for for weeks -- almost.

Todd had done our original framing inspection a few weeks back, and Shawn tried to make sure we got the loose ends secured as soon as possible. His rationale -- he's been around the block -- was that we didn't want to risk having a new inspector raise issues Todd had resolved, for whatever reasons.

Sure enough, Todd is history, for whatever other reasons. And when the "new" guy (who wasn't really new -- he'd done our piers, and knew the job) came by today, he was sympathetic about Ref, trod gently but thoroughly and told us something we hadn't realized: We need to get insulation inspected before any more paneling or drywall goes up.

I let Shawn know we'd passed -- he and the family are in Jacksonville for Ref's burial -- and he instantly reshuffled our schedule. Insulation starts Monday, and Mr. B and Nate assured me it could be finished in a day and a half.

One step closer.

- ■ -

I feel terrible that I can't remember the inspector's name, but: there was the police chase, then him, with some confusion about whether all our permits expired with Ref's death (they hadn't, not for 90 days), and while he was there, a freight driver telling me I owed him hundreds of bucks on the spot for a COD on some chairs, then wrangling the chairs into the storage locker, then picking up payroll checks at the airport, then a huge rainstorm. . . . So until I see him again, he's just the nice guy in the tropical shirt.